The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-09-22

A CENTURY OLD.
President Clsvsland's Speech at the
Constitutional Convention.
Dr6ssbaOh's Failure Cause the Change
in the Nevada Bank.
American National Party in Con-
vention.
A Miscellaneous Glst from all
Quarters.

PHILADELPHIA, September IT,
President Cleveland was at home t,
the people from 8 o'clock this mornin,
until half-past 10, when he stood in TIN
commissioners room in the east wing
OF the city hall at Broad and Market
streets and shook hands with the peo
pie as they passed. The president
accompanied by Secretaries BayarC
and Fairchild, who stood immediatel,
behind him during the reception, left
the Hotel Lafayette shortly before s
O'Clock and promptly upon the ap-
pointed time entered the city hall amid
the cheers OF the multitude, The
space opposite the southern entrance
OF the building was fairly packed Will
people. At 1890 the presidential party
left the building and took carriages fol
the memorial meeting in Independence
square where Mr. Cleveland made the
following address:
deem 1t u very great honor and
pleasure to participate In these i'm
pressive exercises. Every American
citizen should on this centennial day
rejoice In his citizenship. He will not
hnd the cause of his rejoicing in the
antiquity of his country, for among
nations of the earth his stands with
the youngest. He will not find it in
the glitter and pomp that bedeck a
monarch and dazzle abject and serViIe
subjects. For in his country the
people themselves are rulers. He will
not lind 1t in the story of bloody for
eign conquests, for his government has
been contents TO care for its own do
main and people. He should rejoice
because the work Of framing our
constitution was completed one
hundred years ago to-day and
also because when completed it
established a free government. He
should rejoice because this constitution
and government have survived so long.
and also because they have survived
with so many blessings and have dem
onstrated so fully the strength and
value of popular rule. He should re-
Joice In the wondrous growth and
achievements Of the past one hundred
years, and also in the glorious promise
OF constitution through centuries to
come. We shall fail to be duly thank
ful for all that was done for us one hum
bred years ago unless we realize the
difficulties OF the work then In hand
and the dangers avoided in the task of
forming a more perfect union between
the disiointed states, with interests
and opinions radically diverse and
Stubbornly maintained. In the face of
all acknowledgements the fathers of the
republic labored on for four long weary
months, IN alternate hope and fear, but
faltering in a sturdy endeavOr sancti-
fed by u prophetic sense of the
value to posterity of their sue
cess and always with unfiinching
faith in the principles which make the
foundation of government by the peO-
pie. At last their task was done. 1t is
related that upon the back of the chair
occupied by washington as.president of
the convention sun was painted and
that as the delegates " ere signing the
complete constitution one OF them said:
have often and often in the course of
the session in the solitude Of hopes and
fears as to its issue looked at that be-
hind the president without being able
to tell whether 1t was rising or setting
but now at length know that is a ris-
ing and not setting sum- We stand
to-day on the spot where this rising sun
emerged from political darkness,
and in its own bright meridian light we
mark its glorious way. Clouds have
sometimes Obscured L 8 rays and dread
full storms have made us fear, but God
has held 1t in its course and through its
lifegiving warmth has reformed his
latest miracle in the creation of this
wondrovs land and people.
AS we look down the past century to
the origin of our constitution. as we
contemplate its trials and its triumphs
as we realize how completely the prin-
ciples upon which 1t is based have met
every national peril and every national
need, how devOutly should we confess
with Franklin, God governs in the af-
fairs of men, and how solemn should
be the reflection that to our hands is
committed this ark of the peoples coy
enant, and that ours is the duty to
shield 1t from impious hands. We re-
ceive it sealed with tests OF a century.
1t has been found sufficient in
the past and in all future
years 1t will be sufficient
If the American people are true to their
sacred trusts. Another centennial day
will come and millions yet unborn will
inquire concerning our stewardship
and the safety of their constitution.
God grant that they may find 1t unim-
paired, and as we rejoice in the patriot
ism and devotion of those who lived one
hundred years ago, so may others who
follow us rejoice in our fidelity and in
our jealous love for constitutional lib
ertY.